The pitfalls of buying local

In my quest for buying as much local food as possible AND being more eco-good generally, I've been hitting the Moss St. Market for our weekly produce. Since the beginning of the summer though, the prices there have been skyrocketing. Week before last I was there and saw a lovely little kohlrabi, and it was saying "I'm soooo tender and sweet, don't you just want a nice little veggie snack as soon as you get home???" and I listened to it and thought, why yes, a kohlrabi would be a lovely snack. Then I asked the vendor how much, and he said "$3". I'm like, "For ONE small kohlrabi? I'm sorry, I can't justify that." He muttered something about it being a hard crop to grow. I thought (to myself, I'm proud to say) "bullshit, my dad grew kohlrabi all the time in bloody WHITEHORSE, they can't be *that* hard to grow".

$3 for one snack-sized kohlrabi. I don't think so.

So I've moved my business back pretty much 100% to my friend Dave's farm, Madrona Farm on Blenkinsop road. Yes, I have to drive there, and no, I can't always get enough veg for one week in one trip. I try to go on the days I take Rowan to her grandparent's, but sometimes, I need veggies on Saturdays too. But Dave's produce is not just local, it's organic, and grown with love by someone I know. Plus, I just picked up 3 snack-sized kohlrabi from Dave for - get this - $1. For all 3.

Part of my mission as a full-time domestic goddess isn't just saving the planet, it's saving our bank accounts too. And I can totally justify the extra $5 or so of gas per week for the probably $30 or more in savings from buying veg from Dave instead of the Moss St. Market extortionists.

This is also a shameless plug for Dave's farm. If you're reading in the Victoria area, you MUST go there. Open 11-3 (the earlier you get there, the better) Wed-Sat. They don't advertise, they rely on word-of-mouth - so Dave & Nathalie, here you go - here's some word of mouth! Oh, to get there from downtown, go up Cook, turn onto Maplewood (it's a right swerve just past Finlayson); Maplewood turns into Blenkinsop at McKenzie, then go about 1/2 km past Galey Farms and you'll see the Madrona Farm sign on the right.

Oh and the Moss St. Market? Fun, love the music, love the ethnic food lunch place, but I'm not buying veg there anymore.